New rider training for 50 mile ride at end of September - realistic?

[jenbug]

Hi,

I wonder if anyone can offer some advice. I've been lurking on the message boards for a while but decided it was time to take the plunge and do my first post! (I love this website!)

I got my new bike, a Specialized Hybrid, a week ago. Very exciting. I'm completely new to cycling and haven't done it since I was about 7 years old, plus I have some extra weight to lose (about 35 pounds). I'm yet to get all the gear (apart from a helmet obviously) and have just been out riding around the neighbourhood so far (about 4 miles).

Anyway, my question is this - I've spotted a 50-mile charity bike ride taking place at the end of September. I'd love to raise some money for this charity and think it would be good to give myself a goal to work towards. However, is working up from 4 miles to 50 miles in 10 weeks an unrealistic goal? I'd plan to get out on the bike to train most days .

Any advice on whether this would be a good idea or not would be much appreciated! Cheers!

[Blueberry]

Welcome and congrats on the bike! I think it really depends on 2 things: 1) what's your fitness like now? Have you been doing other active stuff? 2) How comfortable do you want to be when you finish the ride? For someone who is already active, I think you can pretty comfortably work up to that. For someone who has been less active - you may be able to do it - but maybe not as comfortably.

Also what's the terrain like on the ride?

CA

[indigoiis]

I think it's very realistic.
Last year I went from riding in Spring 6-7 miles maybe twice a week to a century in September followed by a very hilly and tough metric century in October. In June I did another century and am now training for two hilly metrics and another September century.

Just take it slowly, and work progressively on your training and comfort level on the bike. You have 6 weeks til September. If you handle this right, 50 mile ride will be a joy.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

You don't give your age or how hilly the ride will be. Have you been doing other activities like fitness walking, or were you a couch potato up until buying your new bike? All this has bearing on how you might do.

Why not just give it a try? Having a goal is always good motivation.

Remember that being sore will be a part of your training if you are trying to go from 0-50 in a short time period.

[Zen]

Contact the organizers and see if they have training rides.
Or find someone who rides better than you and ask if they'd help you train.

[jenbug]

Thanks everyone,

In answer to your questions: I'm 29 and whilst not exactly a couch potato (I walk a fair bit and go to the gym a couple of times a week) I'm definitely lacking in the fitness stakes!

On the MS bike ride website, it classes the ride as "easy" so I'm assuming that it will be smooth, non-hilly-ish terrain. The local ride is in a couple of weeks time (definitely unrealistic!) so I'd be entering the one a couple of states across which is in September. Unfortunately I don't think I'd be able to find a cycling training group to join locally for that ride.

Thanks very much for your advice - which has made me think it's not completely unrealistic! As a new cycler, I'm a little worried that by taking this on it might take some of the enjoyment out of my new sport if I'm riding to discomfort. So I need to weigh this up in my mind.

Thanks everyone - really useful advice - much appreciated!